Basic Life Support

All regulated members are required to attain and maintain Basic Life Support (BLS), including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), training annually from a reputable training provider.

• All chiropractors must complete BLS training this CC cycle, and every year thereafter, to renew their practice permit.
• Standard First Aid with CPR meets the requirement for BLS training this year, if taken after July 1, 2024.
• Standard First Aid with CPR completed in prior years (before July 1, 2024) will NOT meet the requirements for yearly BLS training, even if the certificate is still valid.

Chiropractors must send proof of completion to CCOA by the annual continuing competence deadline of May 31. Regardless of program length, four CC credits are provided for BLS completion.

BLS training must include in-person training (all or a portion). Certificates for 100 per cent online BLS training will not be accepted as they do not meet CCOA requirements.

• BLS/First Aid certificates must:
• Show the date the certificate was issued.
• Show the certificate expiry date.
• Be an official certificate issued by a reputable provider and display the training organization’s name and logo.
• Be in PDF format and sent by email to certificates@theccoa.ca.

Special notes:

BLS certification can expire at different times throughout the calendar year; however your requirement is to demonstrate annually by May 31 proof of valid BLS with CPR for July 1. CCOA trusts that chiropractors will renew their BLS certification on or before certification expiry, as required. This may be audited as part of the practice review process.
It is the chiropractor’s responsibility to keep record of their certificate of attendance as the CCOA office does not retain the certificates.

Basic Life Support is:

• The foundational course for health care professionals and trained first responders who provide care to patients in a wide variety of in-facility and prehospital settings.
• Designed to build participant confidence in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills in a team environment for professionals with a duty to respond.
• A course that teaches the important steps to perform a rapid assessment, perform Basic Life Support (BLS) skills, and perform rapid defibrillation including use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
• Usually taught as a primary, in-depth course, followed by refresher courses in subsequent years.
• Usually 2.5 to 7 hours in length, depending on the provider and type of course (primary or refresher).
• Offered by Canadian Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance and the Heart and Stroke Foundation